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Swans could host SCG final

Ben McKay

Sydney are anticipating a possible SCG home final with the expected abundance of local teams in the NRL's playoffs potentially causing scheduling issues with the AFL.

The Swans have an agreement to play home finals at ANZ Stadium but with up to six Sydney NRL teams in the frame to be around in September there could be clashes.

The SCG could emerge as the winner in the equation - as the only major venue without regular rugby league.

Regardless of the result between the Swans and Fremantle at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, the Swans will play the following final, one or two weeks later, in Sydney.

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If there are multiple rugby league matches at ANZ Stadium during week one or two of the NRL finals series - which is one week behind the AFL - code clashes will likely occur.

Recalling the last finals match at the SCG - an epic 2005 semi-final won by the Swans by three points on the way to a drought-breaking premiership - Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland said there were no guarantees both of Sydney's home finals would be held at the Olympic venue.

"As we head into finals this year, the first week of finals will clearly be played at ANZ Stadium," Ireland told the club's website.

"After that, obviously the NRL finals are on and there are more Sydney-based teams playing this year than last year, so there might well be a case where there is a clash."

Ireland said under the current deal ANZ Stadium had first option on the Swans' finals.

That deal was being re-negotiated ahead of its expiration in 2016.

"There is no doubt that the SCG would like to have all of our games played there and ANZ Stadium obviously still want to host some of our games," Ireland said.

"When you come to the finals, it's really a separate arrangement, as the AFL has a direct arrangement with ANZ Stadium which includes that finals football will be played there."

A spokesperson from ANZ Stadium said in the advent of a clash there would need to be negotiations between the codes, clubs and stadiums as to who played where.

Sydney's secondary but larger AFL venue at ANZ Stadium has come in for sharp criticism of its surface following the Swans' loss to Richmond on Saturday.